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Action needed
Action is needed, based on the science.
Avoid errors in decision making, in both advocacy groups and decision makers in government
Decide on the speed of change
Disseminate accurate information
Take personal action
Advocate collective action across society
- science-based decision making
- accept that decision making is often flawed
- devise procedures to scrutinise decisions and remove errors
- shared decision making (SDM) so that all parts of society are involved
- emergency (not routine) action
- e.g. a pathway to Net Zero 2030
- explain that current affluent lifestyles are unsustainable,and will end one way or another
- explain the promises made in the Paris Agreement and the choices we have
- anticipate shock and anger
- reduce fossil fuel use as fast as possible
- reduce fossil fuel use very rapidly, including a massive programme of insulation, ending leisure aviation, much reduced vehicle mileage, and restructuring of the food supply.
- a rapidly increasing carbon tax.
Action is needed, based on the essential background climate information (see carbonindependent.org/184.html).
Good decision making is needed, from all parts of society
- correct the current widespread errors in decision making
- shared decision making (SDM) so that all parts of society are involved
- science-based decision making
- accept that decision making is often flawed due to numerous cognitive biases
- devise procedures to scrutinise decisions and remove errors
Particular groups have particular responsibilities:
- decision makers in government should be open to correction
- "advisers advise and politicians decide" is an inadequate approach
- objections and protesters should be taken seriously and answered adequately
- there should be transparency over whether protesters are treated as trouble-makers or whistle blowers
- media should ensure adequate referencing to original sources
- advocacy groups should campaign in line with the science, and be prepared to challenge others who are not
- people objecting to or protesting about government decisions should make clear where they feel the government has erred.
Use a checklist to ensure conformity with the science and the Paris Agreement, including:
- the degree of urgency of action: emergency (not routine) action
- a limit to global warming e.g. 1.5°C or 1.6°C
- staying within the appropriate carbon budget
- equity between nations
- including all CO2 emissions
- double digit percentage annual emission cuts: a pathway to e.g. Net Zero 2030
- credibly compliant policies
- avoiding false solutions
Disseminate accurate information
- be prepared to explain that the current affluent lifestyle of many
- is unsustainable
- is at the expense of misery and premature death of some of the poorest people in the world
- will end one way or another, either in a controlled way of our own volition or through breakdown of societies
- is contrary to the promises made in the Paris Agreement
- anticipate shock and anger
Take personal action
- reduce fossil fuel use as fast as possible
Advocate collective action across society
- reduce fossil fuel use very rapidly, including a massive programme of insulation, ending leisure aviation, much reduced vehicle mileage, and restructuring of the food supply.
- a rapidly increasing carbon tax.
Challenge current actions and policies that are inconsistent with the science
Current examples are- the UK Government's Net Zero 2050 target
- the campaign of Friends of the Earth to insist that the UK Government has a strategy that will deliver its Net Zero 2050 target (even though they know it is the wrong target)
- a comment by a UK Government minister in 2025 about expanding Heathrow Airpost was met by campaigns to oppose airport expansion rather than a statement that the UK should be closing most airports within a month..
First published: 13 Feb 2025